Random Food

This first picture is of a Filipino Barbecue dish that I had at Claire's gathering in Central Park. There is this funny story behind this stick of Barbecue. So our friend (who shall not be called out here) ate some Popeye's fried chicken and served himself one of these sticks. In the end he didn't want the goodness that is Filipino barbecue. Well Claire's cousin seeing that this young man set his plate on the floor without eating the stick was quick to ask, Hey, are you going to eat that barbecue? Our friend said he wasn't and Claire's cousin walked over and picked up said plate from the floor and proceeded to eat it. Funny stuff and proves that Filipino people love their barbecue.



Muscles and Fries from my favorite French place in the NYC: Zucco's. If you have a chance to visit Zucco's...I insist that you visit today. The vibe is really cool and Zucco is a genuine guy. Very French in every sense of the word...he smokes in front of his place and talks to you in French. Such a good guy and the music and vibe is most excellent! If you want to get on Zucco's good side learn how to say the following words in French: Hello Zucco, Thank You, Great Food, and I will be back again!



Jenn's mother was in town this past week and she asked me where to take her to get some ice cream. I guess they had just eaten brunch and her mother was craving some ice cream. I just happened to be by Caio Bella so I took this picture with my camera phone and sent it to her. The Rooster is always around a good place to send you and if he doesn't know the address he will send you a picture for you to find the place.



I can't get enough of these little things. Rice Balls are the bomb! I went here with Vivian for lunch this past week.



These little things looked like Moochie but they aren't. I'm not sure what they are...sweet. In any case, you should try them out if you have the chance.



Here is Vivan! What can I say, I had to include a picture of Vivan. I think she is getting married like in six months or something like that. She's been in the city for five years now and I remember when I met here at H&M and she was wet behind the ears barley getting here from Los Angeles. Funny.

KUMA INN

I had the chance to visit Kuma Inn again this past week with Jenn. What can I say, I was very disappointed by the food. Where I tend to label their food as delicious and filling; I left feeling empty. Not so much because the food didn't fill me up but because half of our plates were average and one we had to send back.

Not that I mind sitting and waiting for a table because sometimes that happens. At Kuma they did take good care of us and pour us our wine (BYOB at Kuma)and bring us a vegetarian spring roll while we waited. But the wait was about 40 minutes which I found to be a bit long. Lucky for me Jenn was a champ and wasn't in a rush either...so we just chatted and waited patiently.

In any case, like I said, I'm a huge fan of Kuma Inn but I think this is the last time I will be visiting for a long time. The service is great and extra friendly and makes me feel as if I'm at home. Yet, the food lacked so greatly this time around. Sad. I could tell the host was even sad that we didn't have a knock-out time this time around. So much so I presented the staff with a high-end Sake. I tend to do that at places I enjoy...serious, the staff works hard to make our food and time at their place enjoyable. Like I said, very sad at the outcome of this meal. Yet, feel free to give it a try on your own.

In closing, thought I would give you some pictures anyways. A bit dark due to being taken with my cell phone.



These were pork buns that I enjoyed very much.



Pan Roasted Ocean Scallops With Bacon, Kalamansi And Sake



Vegetarian Summer Rolls with thai basil, daikon, carrots and chayote



Sautéed Chinese Sausage. This by far was the best plate of the night.

Ramblings

I have a few food stories to whip out soon enough. Yes, I even took pictures of the food for you loyal readers. I'm just here to write a quick second and get the blood flowing for the huge posts I'm going to put up tomorrow.


Reviews coming:

SOHO Park
Ippudo

Until then I will leave you with some pictures. Enjoy!

Casa Mono

I always laugh when I walk into a Tapas bar and people aren’t sitting at the bar. Serious, when you sit at a Tapas bar you are suppose to be standing up and walking around to different friends at different stools. Of course taking time to nibble at what ever small plate they have in front of them.

So I was pleased when Jenn and I were seated at the bar stools of Casa Mono. It had been some time since I had been to Casa Mono, last time I was there was with John “The General” Lee. This time I went with a foodie friend of mine, Jenn. I thought I had my ear to the streets of NYC by visiting different publications and also hanging with The General...but this little girl knows her locations. In any case, here is Jenn looking for new places in Zagats:



In any case, I walk in a take a seat at the bar and Jenn does the ordering and goes on to order the following:

Pan Con Tomate
Mussels with Cava and Chorizo
Duck with Capers

2 White Wines:
Agro de Bazan Granbazan Ambar 2006 Rias Baixas Albarino
Ladairo Monterrei 2006 Godello

The meal was delicious and the wine was a great complement.

The Pan Con Tomate was great for the tomato was more of a puree spread across the bread with just the right amount of soft olive oil to complement (sorry for the bad picture).



The Mussels with Cava and Chorizo was tasty. This is where I blew it. They served a side of bread and I forgot to dip the bread in the juices left behind by the mussels. I love doing that and given that there was Chorizo in those juices...muuuuah! I blew it!! Jenn suggested I have the busboy get the plate back for us but it was too little too late.



The Duck with Capers had to be the highlight of the meal. Why? Well the duck was cooked perfectly. Although duck tends to render a lot of fatty juices and it is a greasy piece of meat...this was not oily, moist, and had nice warmth to it...in other words, it wasn’t piping hot which might have killed the natural organic taste to it.




The wines were a good complement for I feel that if red wine was drank with these plates that it would have overpowered the plates. The white wines were fruitier with not too much oak barrel residual to them. I do think that the oak taste would have killed the delicate ducks flavor.

In closing, good food, good wine, and of course good conversations about if God is a myth? Life doesn't get any better than this.

My Birthday Picture